The blast site near Nowgam police station in Srinagar has been sealed off by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams and security forces while the probe continues after people died in the incident on Friday.
Security forces, alongside the forensic experts, are conducting the on-site inspection to gather the evidence.
On Friday, an accidental blast inside the Nowgam Police station killed nine and left 32 more injured and caused extensive damage to the surrounding buildings. The injured were admitted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) in Srinagar for further treatment.
The Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat, said yesterday that “any speculation about the incident was unnecessary, as preliminary investigation revealed that it was purely an accidental explosion.”
He said that nine people who lost their lives were identified, and among the deceased were an officer of the State Investigation Agency (SIA), three FSL personnel, two crime-scene photographers, two revenue officials who were assisting the Magistrate’s team, and a tailor associated with the operation.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for each deceased’s family and Rs 1 lakh for the seriously injured in the explosion. He also directed J-K Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo to ensure the best treatment for the injured and assured that the damaged structures will be duly compensated, an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office read.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah yesterday called for a thorough and independent investigation into the Nowgam police station blast, saying that “mistakes” in the initial handling of the explosive may have contributed to the tragedy that led to the deaths and damaged multiple residential structures.
Follow us
